Autism

Posted on Autism

Why the Term “Asperger’s” Is No Longer Used by the Autism Community – Do you agree?

10 Celebrities you didn't know had Asperger Syndrome

The term “Asperger’s Syndrome” was once widely used to describe a specific set of behaviors and characteristics within the autism spectrum. However, in recent years, the autism community and medical professionals have moved away from using this term. Here are the key reasons why:

Diagnostic Clarity

One of the main reasons for the shift is the difficulty in clearly differentiating Asperger’s Syndrome from other forms of autism. The symptoms of Asperger’s often overlap significantly with those of autism, particularly with what is now known as autism Level 1, which requires minimal support. This overlap made it challenging to reliably diagnose Asperger’s as a distinct condition.

Unified Diagnosis

In 2013, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), officially removed Asperger’s Syndrome as a separate diagnosis. Instead, it was merged into the broader category of autism. This change aimed to create a more unified and inclusive understanding of autism, recognizing that it exists on a spectrum with varying degrees of support needs.

Historical Controversy

The term “Asperger’s Syndrome” was named after Hans Asperger, an Austrian psychiatrist whose work in the 1940s identified a group of children with specific behavioral traits. However, recent research has revealed that Hans Asperger was complicit with the Nazi regime and was involved in the euthanasia of disabled children. This historical association has led many in the autism community to reject the term due to its troubling origins.

Promoting Inclusion

By moving away from the term “Asperger’s,” the autism community aims to promote greater inclusion and reduce stigma. The previous distinction between Asperger’s and other forms of autism sometimes perpetuated the misconception that autism is synonymous with low intelligence. The unified diagnosis under autism helps to emphasize that autism is a spectrum, and individuals with autism can have a wide range of abilities and support needs.

Personal Preferences

While the term “Asperger’s” is no longer used as an official diagnosis, some individuals who were previously diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome still prefer to use this terminology to describe themselves. They may identify as “Aspies” and feel a sense of community and identity with the term. However, the broader shift in language reflects a move towards a more inclusive and accurate understanding of autism.

Conclusion

The decision to retire the term “Asperger’s” and adopt a more inclusive approach to diagnosing autism reflects the evolving understanding of the autism spectrum. By recognizing the diverse experiences and needs of individuals with autism, the community can work towards greater acceptance, support, and inclusion for all.

Posted on Autism, Mental health, neurological conditions

Autism Life? – Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Brain’s Decision Switchboard Uncovered

Distinct cell types in MRN

Distinct cell types in MRN, inhibitory neurons (GABAergic; blue), excitatory neurons (glutamatergic VGluT2+; green), and serotoninergic neurons (orange), differentially control perseverative, exploratory and disengaged states. Credit Sainsbury Wellcome Centre

Ever wondered how your brain decides whether to stick with a goal, try something new, or just give up? Scientists at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre have made a groundbreaking discovery in understanding this process. By studying mice, they have uncovered neural circuits in the brainstem that control these crucial behavioral strategies. This research could provide insights into a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions, such as OCD, autism, and major depressive disorder.

The Brain’s Balancing Act

Our brains are constantly balancing different behavioral states. Whether we’re persevering in a task, exploring new options, or disengaging completely, this balance is essential for survival. However, in conditions like OCD and major depressive disorder, this balance is often disrupted.

Key Findings in Neural Circuits

The researchers focused on a midbrain area called the median raphe nucleus (MRN). They discovered three types of neurons in the MRN, each with a unique role in controlling behavior:

  1. GABAergic Neurons: Suppressing these neurons causes perseverance in a current goal.
  2. Glutamatergic Neurons: Activating these neurons drives exploration of new options.
  3. Serotonergic Neurons: Suppression of these neurons leads to disengagement.

How the Study Was Conducted

The team used a combination of naturalistic tasks, where mice acted on instinct, and learned tasks, where mice used prior knowledge of food rewards. They employed techniques like optogenetic manipulations, calcium imaging, and neural circuit tracing to reveal the functions of these neurons.

Real-World Implications

Understanding these neural circuits could help us better comprehend and treat neuropsychiatric conditions. For instance, an excessive drive to persist in familiar actions is seen in OCD and autism, while a lack of motivation is a symptom of major depressive disorder. Changes in the activity of specific neurons in the MRN might contribute to these conditions.

Future Directions

The researchers also found that the MRN receives positive or negative feedback from other brain regions, influencing decisions to persevere or disengage. This discovery positions the MRN as a central switchboard for decision-making, capable of flexibly controlling behavioral strategies.

Hope for Better Treatments

These insights could pave the way for more targeted treatments for mental disorders. For example, very low activity of serotonergic neurons in the MRN might contribute to depression. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to more effective and specific therapies, particularly for conditions linked to the neurotransmitter serotonin.

This discovery is not just a leap forward in neuroscience; it offers hope for better understanding and treating mental health conditions. So, next time you’re deciding whether to stick with something, explore new options, or give up, remember there’s a whole neural orchestra at work in your brain, playing the tune of your choices.

Feel free to share this fascinating find with your friends and family on social media or through your favorite messaging apps!

Posted on ADHD, Autism, Diet

The Link Between Western Diet During Pregnancy and ADHD in Children

Autism and Pregnancy
ADHD and Pregnancy

New research from Denmark sheds light on the impact of a mother’s diet during pregnancy on the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and autism in children. The study reveals that a Western dietary pattern, high in fat and sugar and low in fresh ingredients, may increase this risk. This discovery emphasizes the importance of targeted dietary interventions during pregnancy to potentially reduce these risks.

The Study and Its Findings

A comprehensive clinical study conducted by the University of Copenhagen and the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood (COPSAC) at the Danish Paediatric Asthma Centre has found a significant association between maternal diet during pregnancy and the development of ADHD and autism in children.

Dr. David Horner, MD, PhD, the lead author, explains, “The greater a woman’s adherence to a Western diet in pregnancy – high in fat, sugar, and refined products while low in fish, vegetables, and fruit—the greater the risk appears to be for her child developing ADHD or autism.” The study identified this Western dietary pattern using data-driven analysis, showing that moderate shifts towards a Western diet significantly increase the risk. Small dietary adjustments away from this pattern could reduce the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Extensive Analysis

To reach these conclusions, researchers analyzed dietary patterns, blood samples, and ADHD diagnoses across four large independent cohorts in Denmark and the United States, encompassing over 60,000 mother-child pairs. Metabolomics was used to analyze blood samples, providing insights into the biological mechanisms linking diet to neurodevelopmental disorders and validating the results.

The link between Western dietary patterns and ADHD was observed across all four cohorts and validated using three different methods. This reinforces the study’s credibility, according to David Horner. The study draws on a robust dataset where nearly 600 children were clinically assessed for neurodevelopmental disorders at age 10. Despite accounting for a range of factors, including genetics, a clear association between a maternal Western diet and the risk of ADHD and autism remained.

Publication Details

The study, titled “A Western dietary pattern during pregnancy is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and adolescence,” has been published in the prestigious journal Nature Metabolism. You can access the full study here.

Greatest Risk in Early Pregnancy

One of the study’s key strengths is the high quality of the biological samples, which included repeated metabolomic measurements throughout pregnancy and childhood. This allowed researchers to demonstrate that the association of diet on ADHD risk was strongest in early and mid-pregnancy.

Professor Morten Arendt Rasmussen from the University of Copenhagen explains, “When comparing across cohorts, we observed the strongest associations in the first and second trimesters, suggesting that brain development during this period is particularly sensitive to maternal nutritional influences.”

Metabolites and Dietary Influence

Researchers identified 43 specific metabolites in maternal blood linked to a Western diet that could help explain the connection between diet and neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. David Horner notes, “We found that 15 of these 43 metabolites were particularly linked to the increased risk of ADHD. Many of these metabolites are derived from dietary intake and play key roles in regulating inflammation and oxidative stress—factors believed to be critical in early neurodevelopment.”

Implications for Dietary Guidelines

This study raises important questions about the adequacy of current dietary guidelines for pregnant women. In Denmark, dietary recommendations for pregnant women largely mirror those for the general population, emphasizing a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and fish rather than red meat.

Dr. David Horner points out, “Our study highlights just how crucial dietary composition is for foetal development. While the Nordic diet is often considered healthy, our data show that many pregnant women follow dietary patterns that could be optimized to better support their child’s development. This study raises the question of whether existing dietary recommendations are sufficiently followed during pregnancy—and whether they have the desired impact on child health.”

He adds that the study not only demonstrates an association between diet and ADHD risk but also provides insights into specific nutrients and food groups that could play a vital role in foetal brain development. “By understanding how maternal diet influences foetal development, we can better identify the key nutrients and dietary adjustments needed to reduce the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. This opens new possibilities for refining dietary recommendations and promoting healthier outcomes for future generations,” says David Horner.

Conclusion

The findings of this study underscore the critical importance of a balanced diet during pregnancy. As more research continues to unfold, it will be essential for healthcare professionals and expectant mothers to stay informed about the best dietary practices to support healthy foetal development.

Posted on Autism

Guidelines for Creating Accessible Consent Materials and Procedures: Insights from Research with Autistic Adults

Autism in Adulthood

Credit Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

A new article in Autism in Adulthood offers essential guidelines for crafting consent materials and procedures that are accessible to autistic adults and individuals with intellectual disabilities. The authors stress the significance of using various methods—such as auditory and visual formats—to accommodate different abilities and communication needs.

Dr. Kelly Beck from the University of Pittsburgh and the Working to Increase Inclusivity in Research Ethics (WIRE) Consortium share valuable lessons from major U.S. research institutions. Their findings highlight the importance of adapting consent materials to address standard information processing and communication differences in autism and intellectual disabilities.

“These guidelines emphasize the need for multiple modes of content delivery to create materials accessible to a diverse range of abilities, communication needs, and experiences,” the authors explain.

Dr. Rebecca Flower, Executive Editor of Autism in Adulthood and a member of the Human Research Ethics Committee at La Trobe University, adds, “These guidelines are invaluable for researchers. They help improve the accessibility and respectfulness of their work with autistic individuals and people with intellectual disabilities, ultimately supporting more ethically sound research practices.”

About Autism in Adulthood

Autism in Adulthood is a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the most pressing issues affecting adults on the autism spectrum, from emerging adulthood to later life. Led by Editor-in-Chief Dr. Christina Nicolaidis from Portland State University, the journal is a premier source for original research, in-depth analysis, and inter-professional dialogue, providing insights and evidence to drive practice, systems, and policy change.

Posted on ADHD, Autism

Rates of ADHD Remain High into Adulthood Among Autistic Individuals

Adults with autism see interests as strengths, career paths

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In a groundbreaking population-based, national cohort study, researchers from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Drexel University, and George Washington University (GWU) discovered that ADHD rates are 10 times higher among autistic adults without intellectual disability compared to the general population.

Philadelphia, February 12, 2025 – A comprehensive study involving over 3.5 million adults has revealed a significant elevation in ADHD rates among those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Published in JAMA Network Open, the study also found that co-occurring ADHD is linked to worse health outcomes, although individuals who received ADHD medications experienced better results.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, over 5 million American adults are autistic. Previous research has shown that autistic adults often face suboptimal health outcomes and higher mortality rates than the general population. Anxiety and depression are more prevalent, leading to a lower quality of life. As a result, many autistic individuals and their families seek ways to identify health issues and find appropriate interventions.

ADHD is a common co-occurring condition in youth diagnosed with autism and can lead to poor health outcomes. However, the prevalence of ADHD often decreases with age, creating a critical knowledge gap about its occurrence in autistic adults. Understanding ADHD’s prevalence and the effects of managing it with medication could help improve clinical care for these individuals.

The researchers analyzed data from a cohort of U.S. Medicaid-enrolled adults with autism or intellectual disability. Collected between 2008 and 2019, the data was analyzed from September 2023 to September 2024. The study included adults aged 18 and older, encompassing autistic adults with and without co-occurring intellectual disability, adults with intellectual disability without autism, and a random sample of Medicaid-enrolled individuals. In total, data from 3,506,661 adults were used in the study.

Lead author Benjamin E. Yerys, PhD, a psychologist in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at CHOP, highlighted the findings: “Generally speaking, rates of ADHD decrease as children grow up, but we found that ADHD rates among autistic adults were nearly identical to ADHD rates seen in autistic children. As rates of autism continue to rise in childhood, at a clinical level, we need to ensure that an increased number of individuals with co-occurring ADHD in adulthood have access to support programs that provide autism as well as ADHD services across the lifespan of these individuals.”

The study revealed that 27% of autistic adults without intellectual disability had a co-occurring ADHD diagnosis, a 10-fold increase compared to the general Medicaid-enrolled population. Additionally, 40% of autistic adults with intellectual disability and 19% of adults with intellectual disability but no autism had co-occurring ADHD. Less than 50% of all adults with ADHD received any ADHD medication.

Adults with an ADHD diagnosis also had higher rates of substance use, cardiovascular conditions, and injuries compared to adults without ADHD. However, those who received ADHD medications had lower rates of these conditions, with one exception: ADHD medications did not reduce substance use rates among autistic adults with intellectual disability and ADHD diagnosis.

The study authors suggest that these findings highlight an opportunity to better coordinate services across behavioral health, physical health, and developmental disabilities for these individuals. By identifying prevalent issues such as substance abuse, more targeted interventions can be implemented during routine care appointments.